Overview – Picard is invited to a secret meeting of Starfleet captains
by his old friend, Walker Keel. At the meeting, Captain Keel informs those
gathered of a conspiracy that has infiltrated the highest ranks of Starfleet.
Shortly after their meeting, and continuing on their route to the planet
Pacifica, the Enterprise detects a debris field, which is revealed to be the
remains of Keel’s ship, the Horatio. Picard confides in Riker about Keel’s
suspicions, and after reviewing some of Data’s research on uncustomary personnel
shuffling in Starfleet, Picard orders the Enterprise to head to Earth. Upon
arriving at Earth, he is greeted by three admirals, including Admiral Quinn. Before
long the crew find themselves battling fellow Starfleet officers who have been
taken over by a race of parasitic-like aliens.

Dinner is served

Score: 8/10 – This episode bears the distinction of
being (thus far) the only episode to be given a “viewer’s discretion advised”
warning. This is due to the amount of violence. The events of this episode
where set up in an episode earlier in the season, “Coming of Age”, in which
Remmick and Quinn investigate Picard, attempting to see if he had been
corrupted by the conspiracy. Things come to a head in this episode and we see
that the conspiracy is due to a group of parasitic aliens that upon entering a
humanoid can take control of the new host. It’s an interesting twist on the
story, and action rules the day. We see lots of shooting, people getting thrown
around, and the infamous exploding head. In fact, there is so much packed into
this episode it almost seems to be too much. I think they could have
strengthened this episode by making it a two-parter, but it is still a fun
episode to watch.

The alien parasite

Relevance – 2 points. Definitely scores a point for
picking up where “Coming of Age” left off. This is the first time that we see a
direct follow up to a previous episode. We also score a point for “Drumhead”,
where it was revealed that Admiral Norah Satie was instrumental in the
uncovering of the conspiracy.

Riker disabled by Quinn

Continuity – 2 points. Story continuity is working
here. As I researched this episode, I did come across a few thoughts that
suggested that there were some inconsistencies, but as I thought about it
myself, there was nothing that was glaringly obvious. An example of this is
that when Worf and Geordi arrive at the admiral’s quarters after Riker calls
for security, Quinn tells them that Riker slipped. Some people took issue with
the fact that it is hard to slip on carpet, but the way I see it is that Quinn
just wanted to get their attention somewhere else so he could surprise them.
Well, he accomplished it. Universe continuity also works. Some have said that
when the Vulcan admiral used the neck pinch on Riker, it should have
immediately disabled him, but the admiral was under the control of the
parasite, and it makes sense that he would not have mastered the neck pinch.
Where I am going to take a point off is for character continuity. In the
previously mentioned scene from Admiral Quinn’s quarters, Riker calls for
security. Sprinting down the hallway come Worf (security chief) and…Geordi? In
all fairness to La Forge, he was not a security officer, and all that ended up
happening was that he was thrown through the door. That really could have been
any security officer, but what is really bothersome to me is that Worf, the
security chief who knows there is something afoot, responds to an emergency by
arriving UNARMED! I am sorry, but I don’t care how much of a hurry Worf was in,
he would have had the sense to have grabbed a phaser. I always found this part
a bit off. Still, we get some great action out of it. We also, sadly, get to
see Worf lose another fight. Oh well.

Remmec as the host of the mother creature

Character Development – 1 point. While the focus on this episode
is Picard, that is about all there is. We learn that to Picard, when it comes
to friendship, he will not always play by the rules. He shows that he trusts
not only his gut instincts, but those of his closest friends. Aside from that,
there is very little that moves along any character development.

Picard is not impressed with the main entree

Social Commentary – 0 points. As much as I enjoyed this
episode, here is where I struggle to find anything to check off this segment.
The old “Don’t trust the establishment” just seems a bit too nutbar-paranoia
for my liking. I really don’t mind that this episode doesn’t give us a lot to
think about with respect to our own society. A good, fun episode does not have
to be a poignant one. It just won’t score you anything here.

During the fight with Quinn, Doctor Crusher is the only one smart enough to bring a phaser

Cool Stuff – 3 points. One point scored for the
parasitic invaders. I liked the fact that you could detect them by the presence
of a gill on the back of the neck. A clever way of identifying who your enemies
are. I am also scoring a point for exploding head. Never has there been such a
gruesome effect in Star Trek, and it still is noteworthy. I am scoring a third
point for a quick “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” picture that Data comes across
when he is researching Starfleet activity. There is a picture of a bird with a
human head that looks a bit like Gene Roddenberry’s. Below it is written “The
Great Bird of the Galaxy”, which is one of the nicknames of the beloved Star
Trek creator. It happens at about the 16-minute mark if you want to see it. I
neat little Easter egg.

The Great Bird of the Galaxy

Rank – Captain (16 points). Personally, I think this is one of those episodes
everybody should see at least once. I have always enjoyed how this episode
deviated from the typical Star Trek flavor. While I am glad that Trek is
generally not like this, a little variety spices things up nicely.

Likely the most gruesome scene in Star Trek

If you would like to read other reviews from the Next Generation, click thislink.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Monday, August 14, 2017

This
September marks the 30th anniversary of one of television’s most
beloved shows. Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted in syndication in 1987
and opened the world to Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future started just
over 20 years before. Star Trek was one of those shows that became a cult
favourite and helped shape television for decades to come, but aside from the
movies and dozens of stories told in comics and novels, the story of the United
Federation of Planets was limited to the original starship Enterprise and her
crew. Names like Kirk and Spock had become household, “beam me up” was a
popular phrase, and most people knew the iconic ship. Yet the actors from the
original crew were aging, and the idea for a new series set in the universe was
being kicked around. Various studios were approached, but it wasn’t until
Paramount Studios approached Gene Roddenberry with the idea that the show would
run on syndication that true traction was gained. Being syndicated freed up the
producers of the show from the demands of network television and opened up
several possibilities in distribution. Gene was promised that he would be in
charge, and the go ahead was given. A new crew would be running a new
Enterprise, set close to a century after the adventures of Kirk and company,
and fans were anxiously holding their breaths.

Many
were skeptical of a new crew on a new ship. Every element that was released was
criticized by some. There were some among the critics and fanbase that felt the
new show was doomed from the start. Even the actor hired to play the new
captain, British actor Patrick Stewart, thought they would be cancelled soon,
to the point where he lived out of his suitcase for the first few months of the
series. People thought that the new uniforms were bad (what, give the captain a
red uniform?!), the ship was not right, and that the characters were going to
be dull. I mean, an android and a Klingon on the bridge? Did they learn nothing
of Kirk’s missions? In spite of the criticisms, there was also much eager
anticipation from the fans. For almost two decades the only way they could
watch Star Trek was on reruns and in the movie theaters, but at last they were
getting new Trek! While there were plenty of doubters, the majority of fans
were willing to give the new show a fair chance.

September
28, 1987 saw “Encounter at Farpoint” air for the first time. I remember it
well. I had recently started the seventh grade, and soon TNG night was a family
staple in my home. My parents had raised us on Star Trek. I had seen all of the
movies and watched many of the original episodes on television. I loved “The
Trouble with Tribbles” and “Amok Time”. I was excited to see something new. We
gathered in the basement of our acreage home and adjusted the rabbit ear
antennae so that the picture came in clearly. As a young boy just beginning his
journey into adolescence, my eyes were wide with wonder and amazement. Seeing
the Enterprise in the opening shot gave me chills. I hoped that I was watching
the beginning of something special, and I was indeed, although it would take a
few years for me to realize it. We met Captain Jean-Luc Picard, his first
officer William Riker, and a host of characters that would soon become like
family to me. There was the android officer, Data, who wanted to be human more
than anything else. Deanna Troi was the emotion-reading empath and councillor
on the ship. Tasha Yar became an early favourite of mine as I loved watching
this tough-as-nails lady kick butt. Geordi La Forge was the blind helmsman that
soon became one that I identified with the most. Doctor Beverly Crusher
balanced drive with compassion, and I must admit that I loved how her teenage
son, Wesley, was able to be a part of the adventure. Ah, and there was Worf,
the stoic Klingon officer who showed us that our enemies can indeed become our
allies. In the pilot episode we met Q, the omnipotent trickster who put Picard
and his crew on trial for the crimes of humanity. Little did we know how
important this imp would be in the series. I was overjoyed when Admiral Leonard
H McCoy appeared in his cameo, and was happy to know that the old crew was not
forgotten. When the two hours was finished, my family and I talked about how
great it was to have new Star Trek on the television. We looked forward to next
week’s episode.

I
was used to having many of my favourite shows get cancelled sooner than I would
have liked, so I was expecting a few seasons of TNG before it was done.
Happily, I was wrong. As I look back on the early seasons, I admit that some of
the episodes were downright cringe worthy. In particular, “Justice” stood out
to me as something that was just off, but I still watched it when it aired in
reruns. Still, for every “Code of Honor” there was an episode that really
entertained me, like “Where No One Has Gone Before”. While I missed seeing more
of the Vulcans and Andorians, I was happy to see some new aliens appear. Some,
like the Binars, came and went. Others, such as the Ferengi, changed a lot over
the next few years. Then there were the classics, such as the Borg and the
Cardassians, that were just great. The characters in particular came to mean a
great deal to me. Before TNG came around, I remember crying only once at the
death of a character. That was Spock. Well, after “Skin of Evil”, you can add
Tasha Yar to that list. While we only knew her for a short time, the other main
cast became like members of the family to us. We loved watching each one grow
and develop into cultural icons. Soon, Picard became as famous as Kirk was, and
it launched Patrick Stewart’s career into the stratosphere. Indeed, we enjoyed
living the adventures of all of our main cast. Some were more loved than others
(sorry Wesley), but in our home, we wouldn’t want to have changed any of them.

It
wasn’t just the main cast that became important to us. Each season we looked
forward to visits from Lwaxana Troi (played by Gene’s wife, Majel Barret), who
chewed up each and every scene that she was in. Some of the crew members became
favorites as well. There was the ever-awkward Lt. Barclay, the strong-willed
Bajoran helm officer Ro Laren, and the ever-reliable Miles O’Brien (who would
go onto becoming a key cast member of Deep Space Nine). There were some
villains as well that would appear again and again to torment the crew. In
addition to an almost annual visit from Q, the crew faced off against Data’s
evil brother Lore, the Duras family, and Sela, the half-Romulan daughter of
their former crewmate Tasha Yar. Of course, the best recurring character (in my
opinion) was Guinan. Portrayed by Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg, Guinan was
created by Gene Roddenberry especially for her. She was the mysterious and wise
hostess of Ten Forward. Goldberg was a huge Star Trek fan, and told her friend
Levar Burton that she wanted to be on the show. Each time she appeared she gave
us a memorable moment. Yes, the characters on TNG were, for the most part,
fabulous.

One
cannot look back at seven years of TNG and not acknowledge the bumps in the
road. The show had some issues early on. Soon, Roddenberry lost some of his
creative control, though he still left his mark in many good ways. Michael
Piller and Rick Berman took over many of the production details, and soon the
writing became top notch. While initially there were many who doubted that the
magic of the original series could be recaptured, it soon became apparent that
such worries were not warranted. Star Trek had always been known for being able
to tackle important social issues by using science fiction and alien worlds to
remind us of what was happening in our world. They tackled topics such as
sexual identity, terrorism, and inherent rights of the individual. We explored
the human condition as we explored the universe. We learned about us as we
learned about alien species and technological gadgets.

As
the show improved, the show did something that nobody ever expected it to do:
it became a ratings juggernaut. The fanbase for the show grew and grew. It was
unheard of for a syndicated show to start hitting #1 in many markets, but that
is what happened. The Next Generation became a phenom unto itself and was
taking down some of the heavy hitters in ratings, including the seemingly
unbeatable Monday Night Football. As the fanbase grew, more people became
familiar not just with this incarnation of the show but of the original series
as well. This was in part due to the inclusion of some legendary characters
(namely Sarek, Scotty, and Spock). The fan base was growing, and all things
Trek were looking bright. In 1991, we celebrated a quarter century of Star Trek
with Leonard Nimoy appearing on a special two-part episode and the sixth
feature film featuring the Original Crew. TNG was drawing a huge audience and a
third series, Deep Space Nine, was in the works. Sadly, in October of that
year, we lost the Great Bird of the Galaxy and the Father of Trek. Gene
Roddenberry passed away, leaving behind millions of grieving fans and a legacy
of a future that was optimistic of our chances. While I mourned the loss of
Gene, I was happy that he left behind a legacy of not just the original Star
Trek, but the Next Generation as well.

So,
this September, I encourage you to look up your favourite TNG episodes. Whether
it is the “Inner Light”, “Yesterday’s Enterprise”, “Darmok”, “Relics”, “The
Measure of a Man”, or “The Best of Both Worlds”, enjoy the show that truly
brought the next generation of Trek fans into the fold. May the lessons of this
show continue to live long that we may all prosper.

To continue the celebration, for the next ten weeks I will guarantee an episode review of TNG. I will be selecting some of the episodes that are considered to be among the best and most popular. If there is one that you would like me to do, please leave your request in the comment section.

Friday, August 11, 2017

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – The Enterprise discovers the missing USS Defiant in unknown
space, its crew dead from apparent madness. As Kirk and the away team continue
to search the ship, they discover that the ship is phasing out of time and
space. With limited power, Scotty can only beam aboard all but one of the away
team at once. Kirk chooses to stay behind, and after the others return to the
Enterprise, the Defiant disappears. Spock, believing that he can still rescue
the captain, chooses to remain. Symptoms of the madness that killed the crew of
the Defiant begin to manifest in the Enterprise crew. While McCoy and Spock
clash over command, a new threat in the form of the mysterious and dangerous
Tholians arrives. As they begin to weave a deadly web around the Enterprise,Spock must make the decision to risk the ship for her captain or abandon his
friend for the safety of all.

Score: 9/10 – This is a favourite among fans, and for
good reason. In a third season that had a fair number of duds, this one shines
brightly. We see a new and different alien threat in the Tholians, and the web
weapon they employ is refreshing and original. There is mystery and suspense as
we wonder if and how the crew can rescue Kirk. We get conflict not just from
the Tholians, but between Spock and McCoy. The two to clash like they have
never before, showing how much of a balance Kirk was to his two friends.
Indeed, it is a touching final message in a recording Kirk made in the event of
his death that brings the two together. We get to see all the main characters
in this episode, which includes what is affectionately referred to as the token
Chekov scream scene. The acting is good,and the special effects are good for
the era (although check out the remastered version). I also enjoyed the ending
where Spock and McCoy play a joke on Kirk. It ended the episode with just the
right amount of levity, especially after the two had come into conflict during
this episode. A very solid and entertaining episode.

Relevance – 2 points. One point is scored for these
events being referenced by Kirk (in Janice Lester’s body) in “Turnabout
Intruder” as he tries to convince Spock that he is truly Kirk. A second point,
and a big one at that, for the Enterprise two-part adventure “In a Mirror
Darkly”, which also acts as a prequel to “Mirror, Mirror”.

Continuity – 3 points. The character continuity is
good here, as McCoy and Spock both come to words as Spock takes command in
Kirk’s absence and possible demise. Spock uses logic, McCoy runs on emotion,
and together find a way to make it work. Story continuity is maintained, as is
universe continuity. Full points in this category.

Character Development – 3 points. This is definitely a
Spock-McCoy episode. The two having to come to terms with Kirk’s death, and it
leads to contention between the two reaching higher levels. I like how Kirk,
via a recorded message, is able to bring balance to the two yet again. Spock
has difficult choices to make, as this is possibly the first time that he
believes he may actually have to replace his friend. McCoy, meanwhile, becomes
very belligerent towards Spock, and seriously oversteps his bounds. He has to
adjust to having the only person on the ship that was arguably equal in
authority now be in command. It was easy at the beginning of this to berate
Spock over his actions as he was accustomed to it, but as Spock continued to
exercise his authority, McCoy had to learn to lay off a bit. It was a great
learning experience for the two officers.

Social Commentary – 2 points. When someone important in your
life is suddenly gone, it is often difficult to come together and move on. This
is the big take home message from this episode for me. Spock does so with
calmness and cool logic. McCoy has a more emotional reaction and needs to be
brought down to Earth a bit. Still, as Kirk reminds his friends, it is
imperative that we do our best to unite instead of pulling apart.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. A point is definitely scored
for the Tholians. Their look, their ship, their web weapon, everything. I liked
how the writers and producers gave the Tholians a distinct look. Yes, the
Tholian was simply a mask, but it gave us a memorable visual. I also score a
point for the effects used with the ship and Kirk phasing in and out.

Rank – Admiral (21 points). Hey, they call these episodes “classics”
for good reason. Seriously, if this episode is not in your Top 10 of Original
Series, then it better have just missed the cut.

If you would like to read other reviews from the Original Series, click on the link here.If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Monday, August 7, 2017

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – Doctor Bashir and Chief O’Brien are on T’Lani Prime,
assisting in the destruction of the Harvesters, a deadly biochemical weapon. As
they work with scientists on both sides of a deadly war, Kellerun soldiers
appear and start killing everyone. O’Brien and Bashir escape and are now hunted
men. Meanwhile, back on the station, Sisko is informed by the ambassadors of
the two sides that Bashir and O’Brien are dead following an unfortunate
accident. Keiko, upon viewing the data recording of the incident, finds her
husband’s actions a bit hard to believe, and soon has Sisko looking for
answers.

Score: 7/10 – This is a fairly good episode from DS9’s
second season. It has some suspense as O’Brien and Bashir go on the run. Miles
being infected by the Harvesters adds to the tension, and the two are forced to
work together to survive the ordeal. While the writers try to add to the
tension with this standard plot device (incapacitate one character so they have
to rely on each other to survive), the audience knows full well that neither of
these main characters is going to die. Still, it is fun watching them bicker,
open up to each other, and eventually trust each other. This episode, while not
the first time these two characters have been paired together (that happened in
the previous season’s “Storyteller” as well as racquetball combatants in the
earlier episode “Rivals”), it is considered to be the beginning of the
friendship that will develop between the two and become very significant over
the rest of the series. There is some action, intrigue, and a few plot twists.
While the storyline is fairly generic (really, you could have made an almost
infinite number of stories by pairing up any two random characters), it works
because O’Brien and Bashir have such great chemistry. The relationship that is
started here will become one of the most realistic friendships in the
franchise. There are also some nice plot twists near the end, with the final one
being delivered in the closing seconds. Keiko, when she was informed of her
husband’s apparent death, found that her husband was drinking coffee in the
afternoon. She insists that he would never drink coffee this late in the day,
and insists that the recording she saw must be a fake. This is what starts the
rest of the crew on the road to rescuing O’Brien. It turns out, in the end,
that Keiko was completely wrong about her husband (he does drink coffee in the
afternoon), showing us that the day was saved because Keiko didn’t know her
husband as well as she thought she did. Some fans love that twist, others hate
it, but it definitely leaves its mark.

Relevance – 1 point. As I mentioned above, this is
where the O’Brien-Bashir friendship truly begins. In previous episodes where
they are paired up, it is either as rivals or in a situation that really
doesn’t give them a reason to set aside differences. If you are a fan of this
friendship, then you need to see this episode to watch how it all began.

Continuity – 3 points. Character continuity is always
at risk when you do a story like this. People want a believable reason for two
characters as different as the engineer and the doctor to get along, and the
writers pull it off. Story wise everything checks out. A point is scored for
universe continuity as well.

Character Development – 3 points. Definitely some big things
start with the pairing of Miles and Julian. Before this episode, Miles really
couldn’t stand the young, cocky doctor. It is understandable as the two have
very different personalities. Then, as the story unfolds, the two starts to put
aside their differences and must work together. O’Brien really shines initially
as the action begins, using his military background to save himself and the
good doctor. Clearly in the emergency, Bashir is out of his element. Bashir
also gets some great growth, including even more respect for O’Brien. He opens
up about himself and his past. Mostly, this episode does a fine job of
contrasting these two. O’Brien is the realist, down-to-Earth family man, while
Bashir is the starry-eyed, naïve dreamer who loves the freedom in his single
status. It gives us exactly what we want from these two. We also have some good
moments as the rest of the crew grieve the loss of their friends and
colleagues. Most notable is Quark, who in his brief appearance adds more heart
to his character than in almost the entire first two seasons combined. As only
a Ferengi could, he honors his two cherished customers who always paid their
bills.

Social Commentary – 2 points. Working together with someone
who is totally different from you often leads to a sense of respect. Unlike
other encounters between the two, O’Brien ends this episode with a newfound
respect for Bashir. While such situations may not always lead to a fast
friendship, this episode shows that it can.

Cool Stuff – 0 points. This is where this episode
comes up a bit short for me. There are many good things about this episode, but
try as I might, I just can’t think of anything that is really “cool”. The
aliens look fairly run-of-the-mill for Star Trek at the time, the sets are
standard, and the storyline is routine.

Rank – Captain (16 points). This is an enjoyable episode. Great
writing and acting by Colm Meaney and Alexander Siddig take an otherwise
typical storyline and make it a fun episode. This is a must see for Season 2.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, please click the following link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – The Enterprise, on their way to a
stellar nursery, picks up a group of Borothan pilgrims that have come to see
the Great Plume of Agosoria. A plasma storm hits, and the Enterprise is nearly
destroyed if it had not been for the actions of an unknown person who
disconnected an antimatter conduit. This is when one of the Enterprise’s
crewman, Daniels, reveals to Archer that he is a temporal agent sent from nine
hundred years in the future to stop the Suliban Silik from meddling with
history. Before long, Archer finds himself in the center of a struggle in the
Temporal Cold War.

Score: 8/10 – Ah, Cold Front. Our second foray into
the story arc that was the Temporal Cold War (or “TCW” as I will refer to it
from here on in). I am not quite sure why the TCW didn’t click better with the
fans, but this episode is quite good. They give us a fair amount of suspense
and action. We finally get to learn the name of the Suliban leader from “BrokenBow” (Silik), and we are introduced to Daniels, who represents a “stabilizing”
force in the TCW. We learn a few things outside of the TCW as well. Religion
takes its place on the stage. It has long been debated by Trek fans what role
Earth religions should have in Star Trek. Well, we learn that in the 22nd
Century religion is still being practiced on Earth. Phlox, who is intrigued by
all forms of religion, tells us that he has attended a Catholic mass and
visited a Buddhist monastery. Archer, when asked about his religious views,
diplomatically stated that he likes to keep an open mind. I think this is the
best and most balanced stand that Star Trek could have taken on Earth
religions, while acknowledging that this likely would not have met
Roddenberry’s approval. The character of Daniels is interesting, although I
must admit that I would have liked it if we had seen him a bit more in earlier
episodes. I think the idea of an unassuming crewman that we had seen for several
episodes suddenly being a central figure in the CTW would have made the
revelation even stronger. So while we did not get a lot of meat in this
episode, it builds for future storylines and gives us an intriguing character.

Relevance - 3 points. Right in the introductory scene
we score a point as Silik is having some of his enhancements removed for his
previous failure. This takes us back to the pilot, “Broken Bow”. Another point
is scored for the introduction of Daniels, who will appear in a total of 8
episodes that spans the entire 4 seasons. While Daniels may not be the best of
recurring characters (that would be Shran), he is an interesting guy that may
or may not be one of the good guys in the TCW and it builds for future glimpses
into the TCW. A third point is scored for the debut of movie night, where the
crew of the Enterprise gather to watch old Earth movies. They have 50,000
titles in their database. The classic they start with? Night of the Killer
Androids. Ah. I personally would have suggested the 1977 classic Star Wars
myself.

Continuity – 3 points. Some may argue that the
inclusion of Earth religions still being practiced in the 22nd
century goes against the Universe continuity as that was a belief held by Gene
Roddenberry. Let me point out that while this episode may have been the most
explicit in detailing religious beliefs of the 22nd century, it is
not the first. Kirk’s Enterprise had a non-denominational chapel where weddings
could have been held. So, while this may not have met with Gene’s approval, I
feel that the universe continuity is still maintained here. Story wise, things
go well, although with Daniels being “killed” and then showing up again later
in the season finale there might be something to take a closer look at. All characters
are acting the way we would imagine. I totally buy Phlox being a student of
different religions. Archer especially jumps from diplomat to skeptic to hero
quite well.

Character Development – 2 points. There is definitely
an Archer focus in this episode. This continues Archer’s importance in the
timeline and will be built upon throughout the series. While T’Pol and Tucker
are also part of the inner circle who know what is going on, only T’Pol really
benefits from any development. This is due to her stated skepticism of time
travel which is common among Vulcans. This is not a major development for her
at this point, and we see little else in the development of the other
characters.

Social Commentary – 1 point. As much as I enjoyed
this episode, I cannot find much about social commentary in it. There is
something said about religion in this episode, and it seems that both following
a particular religion and not are treated with respect. This is only a minor
aspect of the overall story, so I cannot really it score it much more than a
token point.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. I have to score a point for
the technology that Daniels shows Archer and how it is used in the temporal
timelines. I will give another point for the Great Plume of Agosoria.

Rank – Captain (19
points). A
good to excellent episode (depending a personal preferences), but it is
definitely one should watch when going through the series. It does a very good
job at continuing the TCW story line and establishing a recurring character on
Enterprise in a different way.

If you would like to check out my other episode reviews for Enterprise, simply click here.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Monday, July 31, 2017

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – The crew of Voyager accidentally free a
member of the Q Continuum from a unique comet that the rest of the Continuum
had imprisoned him over three centuries ago. When Q, known to have caused much
mischief to Picard on the Enterprise, arrives, Janeway becomes the arbiter for
a hearing to determine if the newly released Q will be imprisoned again or be
allowed his one true desire: death.

Dueling Qs

Score: 9/10 – I really think that this episode is one
of the strongest from Voyager’s second season. Since Voyager started, fans have
been wanting the ever-popular Q to make an appearance. The issue at stake here
was how to do so with a story that was worthy of this monumental occurrence.
“Death Wish” gives us that. Creator Michael Piller was given the idea from his
son, Shawn, and it provided a way for Q to come to voyager in a way that was
not so contrived. By introducing Quinn (which is how I will refer to the
suicidal Q from this point on), we are given a reason for Q (played once more
with brilliance and wickedly impishness John de Lancie) to appear in the Delta
Quadrant. Quinn is fascinating to me as a character. Played by Gerrit Graham
(whom we saw previously in DS9’s first season episode “Captive Pursuit”), he is
able to grab onto the mischievous quality common to most Q, but brought a bit
down to Earth by his weariness with an immortal existence. Most of all, what
works best in this episode is the superb on-screen chemistry between Q and
Janeway. This is the third captain that Q has tangled with. Picard set the
standard and his relationship with Q was always entertaining. Sisko only got
one shot, and while he hadnled Q well, from a story point the fire just wasn’t
there. With Janeway, Q takes things to a different place. The banter is there,
but it is different. This refreshes the character of Q, and the theme of the
story being the place of euthanasia in society gives Q an opportunity to
change. While much of the rest of the cast is relegated to the background, we
get some great scenes for Tuvok and Janeway.

Q(uinn) attempts to end his life...and causes all the men on the ship to vanish

Relevance – 2 points. One point for setting the stage
for the rest of the Q-centered episodes that will follow on Voyager. Because of
Quinn’s death, Q rethinks his attitude towards the Continuum, and causes him to
go back to his rebel ways. Another point is scored for a quick list of Q’s
previous antics (most notably introducing the Federation to the Borg).

The game of hide and seek continues

Continuity – 3 points. Story wise this works well. It
would make sense that when Janeway hears that “Q” is on the ship, she declares
red alert and braces herself for a tough go. Universe continuity also works
well, and we get a rare glimpse as to what life in the Q continuum is like.
Character continuity is good as well. I thought even Q was true to himself
throughout the episode, despite the growth and change he underwent.

Everyone has been the scarecrow

Character Development – 2 points. Q gets the most
treatment and growth here, and while he is not a main character on the show, he
is a beloved character that now spans three series. While this may not score
points in this category, it does deserve a mention. I also feel that Janeway
gets some significant development and lays the foundation for what will be an
entertaining rivalry between her and Q. Much of the main cast becomes glorified
extras here, but Tuvok does get to tangle his logic as he advocates for Quinn.

Best double-face-palm in Trek. Vulcans.

Social Commentary – 3 points. Even today many
governments in the world are conflicted by the debate around a person’s right
to die. As much as we would like to think that all lives are important, what
happens when one is overcome by the pains of life to the point that they want to
end it? Does Quinn have a lot to contribute? Of course he does. He would have
been invaluable to the Voyager crew. And yet he would have been miserable and therefor chose to end his life. Is this right? That is a hard question to answer and
evokes much emotion, but that is what makes the social commentary so relevant.
While we continue to grapple with this issue, this episode gives us a lot to
consider and helps us better understand both sides of the argument.

The Q Continuum

Cool Stuff – 3 points. Of course we score a point for
Q. The show is almost always a bit more special when this omnipotent rascal
blips onto the screen. John de Lancie is true form and pulls off one of his
better outings as Q. I enjoyed the exploration of the Q Continuum itself, with
its whimsical portrayal of the long highway, with various Q playing the
different parts, from the dog to the scarecrow. I also award a point for the
appearance of Q’s witnesses. Issac Newton appears again (this time as a
non-holographic entity) and we get to see William T. Riker again (it’s always
nice to see Johnathan Frakes), but I love how the second witness, the hippy
responsible for saving Woodstock, is named after the actor that plays him. The
story goes that the character had a different name, but upon meeting actor Maury
Ginsberg, the Michael Piller loved his name so much that they changed it in the
script. This makes him the second character to share the same name as the
character, but the first person to have that honor for a character that was not
himself (Stephan Hawking played himself in a TNG episode). That’s a bit of
obscure trivia for your day!

The witnesses are called

Rank – Admiral (22
points). This
is definitely a must watch and shows some of the strength in Voyager. Q was
such a popular character on TNG that fans had been clamoring for his return in
every follow-up series. While his appearance on Deep Space Nine was not
terrible, it was only decent at best. On Voyager, however, they were able to
bring him into the show in a way that was more than just another Q running
a muck episode. This episode is Star Trek at its best.

The comet where Quinn was found

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Voyager, click on the link here.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

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About Me

A mild-manered science teacher who is missing his faithful dog Annie, loving his family, and ruler of his own domain (when life says he can). I love just about anything that is geeky, hate zombie and vampire movies in general, and love country music.